Man told 'you're not the father' as 'dreadful' ex learns her fate in court (2025)

Beth Fernley told Ryan Hampson she was pregnant in April 2019 and was unsure about who the baby's father was - she later told him he was, but the test was faked

A woman who tricked her ex into believing he was the father of her child by forging paternity test results has dodged jail time.

Liverpool Crown Court heard on Tuesday that Beth Fernley, 26, had told Ryan Hampson she was pregnant, but was unsure of who the dad was, in April 2019. According to the prosecutor, Gareth Roberts, Fernley had requested £300 from Mr Hampson for a DNA test and later presented him with screenshots, supposedly from EasyDNA. These shots indicated a 99.9% chance that he was the dad, documents which turned out to be forged.

Fernley, from Warrington, admitted to committing fraud through false representation at last month's court session.

On Tuesday, Judge Andrew Menary handed down the sentence, remarking: "This was a particularly dreadful offence which has had a profound effect on many people including, most particularly, Mr Hampson himself and also members of his extended family."

He questioned the motives behind her deception, pondering whether it stemmed from worry about being pregnant by someone other than her partner, or from a desire to fabricate an idyllic family unit, reports the Mirror.

Judge Menary pointed out her persistent denials even when the police got involved, characterising her actions as a "perpetuation of sinister dishonesty".

He concluded by imposing a sentence of 13 months, suspended for 18 months, stating: "You could not have complained today if I had sent you immediately to prison."

Mr Roberts recounted how Mr Hampson was duped by falsified DNA results, which led him to purchase items for the expected child and rekindle his relationship with Fernley, whom he had previously dated for four years until their split in early 2019.

He was present at the birth, listed as the father on the birth certificate, and even bought a house with Fernley in 2020.

However, the court was told that Fernley later concocted another fraudulent letter suggesting a lab error and denying Mr Hampson's paternity.

Upon contacting the DNA firm, Mr Hampson discovered they had no record of the tests.

After approaching the police in July 2022, Fernley was apprehended, according to Mr Roberts.

In a heartfelt statement read out in court, 27-year-old Mr Hampson expressed his "profound grief, confusion and heartbreak" upon discovering he was not the biological father of the child he had grown so attached to.

He shared: "My entire world fell apart.

"The emotional pain of people asking me about my daughter is unbearable and it brings waves of grief and sadness back that I can't control."

Defence lawyer Tom Worsfold highlighted Fernley's recognition of her wrongdoing, stating: "She has demonstrated she accepts it was wrong of her, in her own words, to play God."

During the sentencing, Fernley, dressed in an olive green blazer and grey dress, briefly showed emotion by shedding a tear but otherwise remained composed.

The judge ordered Fernley to complete 10 days of rehabilitation activities and 200 hours of community service.

Additionally, she was directed to pay £300 in compensation and a statutory surcharge.

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